Secret #1: LEARN ABOUT WORD STRESS

Word Stress is golden key number one for
speaking and understanding English. Word Stress is *very important*.
You can try to learn about Word Stress. This is one of the *best* ways for you to understand spoken English -
especially English spoken fast.

What is Word Stress?

Take 3 words: photograph, photographer and photographic,
for example. Do they sound the same when spoken?
No! They sound different, because *one* syllable in each
word is "stressed" (stronger than the others).

PHOtograph pho
TOgrapher
photoGRAPHic


This happens in ALL words with 2 or more syllables:
TEACHer, JaPAN, CHINa, aBOVE, converSAtion, INteresting,
imPORtant, deMAND, etCETera, etCETera, etCETera

The syllables that are not stressed are 'weak' or 'small' or 'quiet'.
Native speakers of English listen for the stressed syllables,
not the weak syllables. If you use Word Stress in your speech,
you will instantly and automatically improve your
pronunciation andyour comprehension.

If you have an English teacher, ask her to help you understand
Word Stress. Try to hear the stress in words each
time you listen to English - on the radio,
or in films for example. Your first step is to *hear*
and recognise it. After that, you can *use* it!

Watch for your next secret tomorrow,

thanx dear


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